Hrs Seminar Tells Workers How To Improve Services

December 11, 1986|By VALERIE HILL-MORGAN, Staff Writer

FORT LAUDERDALE -- More than 250 state social service workers on Wednesday attended the first day of a two-day training conference developed to better prepare them to provide health care and human services in the future.

The conference, entitled ``Human Services in the `90s,`` is sponsored by the state Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services` Fort Lauderdale district. It will continue today at the Embassy Suites Hotel.

``We really tried to focus on the issues that we believe are going to be pertinent in the `90s,`` said coordinator Carmen Gutierrez, staff development and training manager for the district. ``We want to educate our staff so that the community can be better informed. With all of the negative publicity given our agency recently, the public needs to be aware that HRS is doing something positive as well.``

HRS has been the target of heavy criticism this year, with allegations that the agency mishandled a number of cases. Four children have died this year in Broward while under the agency`s care. Statewide, 55 children have died while under HRS care.

Child abuse, however, is not among the 16 issues that are being discussed during conference workshops.

Experts from Tallahassee, Washington, D.C., Maine and Maryland are scheduled to discuss a number of issues, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome, mental health and sexuality through the life cycle.